can you drift align from the sun?

[h0ughy (David)]

just a quick question -- can you drift align from using the sun as a reference?

[iceman (Mike)]

I don't see why not, using your PST, if you just adjust for drift watching it in the eyepiece (or CCD) until there's very little drift. It should get you pretty close.

To get it more accurate though you'll need to do it on a star at night I guess.

[sheeny (Al)]

Shouldn't be any problem getting a head start on alignment that way, Dave. I've done it before.

If your latitude is close, us the sun (with appropriate filters, of course) in the middle of the day to drift align in az during the middle of the day. Late in the arvo, you can drift align in lat. Of course, by then it's too late to do a second iteration in az until it gets darker to use a star, but it's good head start.

Al.

[monoxide]

i think i remember seeing a post on another forum that allowed you to get very accurate polar alignment by using the sun.

it wasnt so much a drift method as 'the sun should be here at exactly this time' i dont remember all the details though but i do remember there was only a certain time of day that you could do it

[Lester]

Hmm, interesting question with interesting replies.

I will watch with interest.

I would have thought that it wasn't possible, due to the 4 minutes difference from day to day in relation to the stars and also movement from season to season. But as has been said, you could do the fine adjustments at night on the stars.

Still learning.

[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by Lester

Hmm, interesting question with interesting replies.

I will watch with interest.

I would have thought that it wasn't possible, due to the 4 minutes difference from day to day in relation to the stars and also movement from season to season. But as has been said, you could do the fine adjustments at night on the stars.

Still learning.

The speed difference is not a problem... unless you confuse RA drift for declination drift. There's 2 things that can be done to avoid that... align the reticle with the movement in RA by using the RA control, and to avoid any chance of confusion make sure the RA rate is set to solar.

The earth still spins on the same axis .



Al.

[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by sheeny

Shouldn't be any problem getting a head start on alignment that way, Dave. I've done it before.

If your latitude is close, us the sun (with appropriate filters, of course) in the middle of the day to drift align in az during the middle of the day. Late in the arvo, you can drift align in lat. Of course, by then it's too late to do a second iteration in az until it gets darker to use a star, but it's good head start.

Al.

Of course, if you are fortunate enough to have Venus or Jupiter at good elongation from the sun and you can find them, you could complete the whole process over several iterations if necessary (can't say I've done that though!)

Al.

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Lester

Hmm, interesting question with interesting replies.

I will watch with interest.

Still learning.

ME TOO